Does anyone have a recommendation for a fetal doppler monitor? I'm just looking for something I can use at home in between doctor visits to ease my mind. I have a fetal stethoscope that I used last pregnancy but that doesn't work until about 22 weeks and right now that seems like forever!
I don't need anything too expensive or fancy - just a reliable, basic unit.
Thanks!
Rent one.
I rented from www.babybeat.com, and you can get the same equipment that the doctor's offices use. Not terribly expensive, and then you're not stuck with it when you don't need it anymore.
you can find them on ebay or amazon for 40-70 bucks and they are the same thing the drs use.
I used a Sonoline B Pocket Fetal Doppler. It was $60 on Amazon and it worked excellent. I picked up the baby's heartbeat at 11 weeks pregnant. And it definitely helped to ease my mind and relax and enjoy the pregnancy!
i would strongly recommend not getting a doppler at all for home use. ultrasound has not been shown to be safe for babies prenatally, and there is much research showing possible harmful effects. you can do some research about this online. i'd also minimize how much ultrasound you get at the doctor's or midwife's office (including both "ultrasounds" and "doppler" checking). i think it is actually much better to tune into your baby in other ways, such as massage, patting and rubbing, palpating, talking, singing, dancing, listening with your heart. and of course a fetoscope is fine. you can really know how your baby is doing by tuning in and really paying attention to sensations, movements, intuition etc, rather than by relying on an external device.
